Product Warning - USE WITH CAUTION!
06-01-2002, 04:04 PM
#1
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Product Warning - USE WITH CAUTION!
I recently purchased a bottle of Meguiar's Gold Class Wheel Cleaner.
DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT ON RAW ALUMINUM!!!
Most 3-piece wheels (Fikse, Kinesis, etc..) and many other high-end products use uncoated aluminum and will be damaged by this product.
The product is a highly caustic cleaner that creates a chemical reaction with raw aluminum and literally etches it. I sprayed my wheels with the cleaner and rinsed it off 5 minutes later. As you can see from the photos, the results were disasterous. What appears to be water spots (or worse, Armor All overspray) are actually permanent etchings in the surface of the aluminum. They will not come off with a simple cleaning and need to be polished out. That will take a ton of time and elbow grease.
The fine print on the bottle does read "Not for uncoated, polished aluminum wheels" but that is barely visible and not likely to be read by most consumers. I've already contacted the Meguiar's product manager to pursue the matter. Their initial reply was "we're sorry but you should have read the fine print"...
DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT ON RAW ALUMINUM!!!
Most 3-piece wheels (Fikse, Kinesis, etc..) and many other high-end products use uncoated aluminum and will be damaged by this product.
The product is a highly caustic cleaner that creates a chemical reaction with raw aluminum and literally etches it. I sprayed my wheels with the cleaner and rinsed it off 5 minutes later. As you can see from the photos, the results were disasterous. What appears to be water spots (or worse, Armor All overspray) are actually permanent etchings in the surface of the aluminum. They will not come off with a simple cleaning and need to be polished out. That will take a ton of time and elbow grease.
The fine print on the bottle does read "Not for uncoated, polished aluminum wheels" but that is barely visible and not likely to be read by most consumers. I've already contacted the Meguiar's product manager to pursue the matter. Their initial reply was "we're sorry but you should have read the fine print"...
06-01-2002, 04:47 PM
#3
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Thread Starter
I've always used S100 with great results. I tried this stuff because it was on sale at my local auto parts store. I've used other Meguiar's products for years with great results but I think it is downright irresponsible for them to market this product without a stronger, highly visible warning.
Yes, they will polish out, but to do it RIGHT I have to have the wheels dissasembled. Otherwise, I'll never be able to polish the small areas of exposed rim that sit between the spokes or the area where the hub mates with the rims. Maybe if I used some Q-tips.... Now that would be a project!
Matt
Yes, they will polish out, but to do it RIGHT I have to have the wheels dissasembled. Otherwise, I'll never be able to polish the small areas of exposed rim that sit between the spokes or the area where the hub mates with the rims. Maybe if I used some Q-tips.... Now that would be a project!
Matt
06-01-2002, 05:09 PM
#5
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Matt,
I just purchased race satin anodized FM-10s and appreciate the warning. Sorry about your troubles, but I appreciate you sharing them with the board.
I just purchased race satin anodized FM-10s and appreciate the warning. Sorry about your troubles, but I appreciate you sharing them with the board.
((
06-01-2002, 05:40 PM
#7
Sorry to hear about your wheels.
Have you tried polishing the rims with Wenol Red (coarse) and then Wenol Blue (final polish) to get at the spots?
<img src="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/wenol_all.jpg" alt=" - " />
This may be worth a try. When I bought my last set of wheels, Clif Tedrick at Fikse recommended these polishes for polished rim lips. Additionally, FWIW, for the centers (or at least the Satin Anodized centers ) Fikse recommends only a 50/50 mix of Simple Green and cold water, applied only to a cool wheel surface.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
Tim
Have you tried polishing the rims with Wenol Red (coarse) and then Wenol Blue (final polish) to get at the spots?
<img src="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/wenol_all.jpg" alt=" - " />
This may be worth a try. When I bought my last set of wheels, Clif Tedrick at Fikse recommended these polishes for polished rim lips. Additionally, FWIW, for the centers (or at least the Satin Anodized centers ) Fikse recommends only a 50/50 mix of Simple Green and cold water, applied only to a cool wheel surface.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
Tim
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06-01-2002, 05:50 PM
#8
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[quote]Originally posted by H20NOO:
<strong>Their initial reply was "we're sorry but you should have read the fine print"...</strong><hr></blockquote>
Matt - that sucks.
I hope Meguiar's isn't trying to market to the over 40 crowd. I'm finding it harder & harder to read anyone's "fine print."
Seems to me when a consumer cleaning product, used as intended, will cause such damage IF the wheels are uncoated a more visible and stronger warning is in order. After all, how many consumers at the WalMart know whether their wheels are aluminum, steel, magnesium, plastic, painted, polished, or clearcoated?
<strong>Their initial reply was "we're sorry but you should have read the fine print"...</strong><hr></blockquote>
Matt - that sucks.
I hope Meguiar's isn't trying to market to the over 40 crowd. I'm finding it harder & harder to read anyone's "fine print."
Seems to me when a consumer cleaning product, used as intended, will cause such damage IF the wheels are uncoated a more visible and stronger warning is in order. After all, how many consumers at the WalMart know whether their wheels are aluminum, steel, magnesium, plastic, painted, polished, or clearcoated?
06-01-2002, 07:37 PM
#9
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H2ONOO,
Griots also makes a mag wheel polish that I have used on my Kinesis and BBS aluminum outer rims. I have some polishing buffers that connect to my drill and they have helped remove stains and oxidation.
Maybe write a letter to Meguiars about this.
I have used both the Griots and the P21S wheel cleaner with good results from each. I think the p21S removes more brake dust and dirt though.
Greg
Griots also makes a mag wheel polish that I have used on my Kinesis and BBS aluminum outer rims. I have some polishing buffers that connect to my drill and they have helped remove stains and oxidation.
Maybe write a letter to Meguiars about this.
I have used both the Griots and the P21S wheel cleaner with good results from each. I think the p21S removes more brake dust and dirt though.
Greg
06-03-2002, 12:09 PM
#10
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Thread Starter
Thanks all for the suggestions. I will return to S100 for cleaning. Simichrome polish seems to remove the damage with moderate effort so it'll simply be a matter of finding the time to pull them off and give them some attention.
I've already prepared a letter with photos for Meguiar's. They seemed to be very familiar with this issue as I'm sure I'm not the first fuming consumer that has called them about this product.
I suggested a much stronger warning on the bottle and they told me two things; 1) the marketing department wouldn't allow it and, 2) a new formulation is now being distributed that is safe for all wheels.
Good grief.
I've already prepared a letter with photos for Meguiar's. They seemed to be very familiar with this issue as I'm sure I'm not the first fuming consumer that has called them about this product.
I suggested a much stronger warning on the bottle and they told me two things; 1) the marketing department wouldn't allow it and, 2) a new formulation is now being distributed that is safe for all wheels.
Good grief.
06-03-2002, 03:20 PM
#11
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I had a similar problem with an Eagle wheel cleaner (recommended by HRE).
Go to a Harley shop and get a tube of Semi-Chrome polish. This and a little elbow grease (not too much) should bring them back to life.
Go to a Harley shop and get a tube of Semi-Chrome polish. This and a little elbow grease (not too much) should bring them back to life.
06-03-2002, 05:10 PM
#12
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Bastards!! <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" /> <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
Terribly sorry to hear about this.
Terribly sorry to hear about this.
06-03-2002, 05:23 PM
#13
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Matt:
Sorry to hear about that. It really sucks!!! <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
I had a similar problem when I took my M3 to the detailer and they ruined my 3-piece wheels. The only way to fix them is to get them polished again.
Thank you for the warning. I've been cleaning my wheels with soap and water.
Sorry to hear about that. It really sucks!!! <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
I had a similar problem when I took my M3 to the detailer and they ruined my 3-piece wheels. The only way to fix them is to get them polished again.
Thank you for the warning. I've been cleaning my wheels with soap and water.
06-04-2002, 08:13 PM
#14
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I find that any spray on/ hose off wheel cleaner is too harsh for wheels you car about. the meguiar's hot wheels type in the pink bottle seems to work great on my polished raw wheels, but you gotta scrub a bit. sorry about your wheels, griots is my personal fav.
Jason
Jason
06-04-2002, 08:16 PM
#15
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I find that any spray on/ hose off wheel cleaner is too harsh for wheels you car about. the meguiar's hot wheels type in the pink bottle seems to work great on my polished raw wheels, but you gotta scrub a bit. sorry about your wheels, griots is my personal fav.
Jason
Jason